ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., March 12 (UPI) -- Two players and two coaches were ejected Wednesday in the latest incident of bad blood between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.
Both benches cleared in the second inning of an exhibition game when New York first baseman Shelley Duncan slid hard into Akinori Iwamura while being thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double.
Duncan was promptly tackled from behind by Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny Gomes.
After players from both teams dashed onto the field without major escalation, Duncan and Gomes were kicked out of the game -- as were New York coaches Bobby Meachem and Kevin Long.
The incident came four days after New York catcher Francisco Cervelli suffered a fractured right wrist in a home-plate collision.
Tampa Bay won Wednesday's game 7-6.
